Pivoting golf tee

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a pivoting golf tee. The golf tee comprises an upper member and a lower member. The upper member provides a surface on which the golf ball rests and a lower member provides a pointed end such that the tee can be inserted into the ground. Between the upper and lower member is a snap together pivot. The upper member comprises of a socket that accepts the ball section of the lower member. Both the upper and lower members have a corresponding flat on the ball section such that when the two members are not axially aligned stress is applied between the two members. The corresponding stress is the mechanism that snaps the golf tee back to its coaxial position. A slot in the upper member adjacent to the socket provides a means by which the two members can be snapped together during initial assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf tees and more particularly a pivoting golf tee.

Prior known techniques in design are typically single piece in structure and are usually broken and replaced after each golf swing. There are several prior known techniques in design and manufacture for pivoting tees. Described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,146,736 is a golf tee that has a two-piece construction with a single direction hinge between the upper and lower member. The problem with this type of design is that is needs to be positioned in order that it hinges from the impact of the golf club. Described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,966,214 is a golf tee that is three-piece in construction and has a ball and socket for the pivot. This design has an upper and lower member with a threaded collar holding the two members together. The disadvantage of this design is that it is complicated to manufacture and assemble requiring tread on two of the three members. It also has the disadvantage of not returning the tee back to centerline position. Described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,208 is a golf tee that is two-piece in construction that has a ball socket for the pivot. The disadvantage of this design is the problem of needing to return the tee back to centerline position and the large diameter of the lower member for the socket.

It would be beneficial to provide a golf tee that pivots between the upper and lower member such that the upper member pivots when impacted by a golf club from any direction preventing the tee from breaking and the upper member can be snapped back into centerline position easily.

Another advantage of the design of the preferred embodiment of the invention is that the snapping feature will prevent slippage. The prior are allows the weight of the golf ball to affect the tee position. As the other style tees wear, the joint gets sloppy, thus allowing the golf ball to fall off the tee or movement during the golf swing. Eventually excessive movement will require replacement of the tee and/or precise positioning of the tee. The design of the preferred embodiment of the invention is superior because the weight of the golf ball will not affect the pin alignment, nor is the golf ball likely to move or, otherwise, require precise positioning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention provides a pivoting golf tee. The golf tee comprises an upper member and a lower member. The upper member provides a surface on which the golf ball rests and a lower member provides a pointed end such that the tee can be inserted into the ground. Between the upper and lower member is a snap together pivot. The upper member comprises of a socket that accepts the ball section of the lower member. Both the upper and lower members have a corresponding flat on the ball section such that when the two members are not axially aligned stress is applied between the two members. The corresponding stress is the mechanism that snaps the golf tee back to its coaxial position. A slot in the upper member adjacent to the socket provides a means by which the two members can be snapped together during initial assembly.

The method of manufacturing a pivoting golf tee comprises of molding the upper member out of plastic material or other flexible material. The method includes molding the lower member out of plastic or machining out of other materials such as wood or metal. The method further includes pressing the upper and lower member together and axially aligning the two members.

The present invention further provides a method of reusing a golf tee that pivots when hit rather than breaks. The pivot easily snaps back to its axial position ready for its next use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the pivoting golf tee according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the pivoting golf tee according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view, in section, of the pivoting golf tee according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the upper member according the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view, in section, of the upper member according the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the lower member according the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENT

Golf tees are used in the game of golf to facilitate the striking of golf balls during the game of golf by positioning them above the ground. Details of the game of golf and the use of golf tee 10 are well known and will not be described in detail herein, except as the game or the use relates to the preferred embodiment.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown the golf tee 10, according to a preferred embodiment. As used herein, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. The golf tee 10 comprises of an upper member 11 and a lower member 12. It is at the heart of the present invention that the upper member 11 is allowed to pivot or rotate around the tip of the lower member 12. After the upper member 11 is struck by the golf club it pivots around the lower member 12. The upper member 11 and lower member 12 are under stress during the pivoted state. The upper member 11 easily snaps back to its axial position relative to the lower member 12 and the internal stress is relieved.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a side view of the golf tee 10. Surface 13 provides the area on which the golf ball rests. Surface 14 is the position of the golf tee 10, which is pressed into the ground.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a cross sectional view of the golf tee 10. Upper ball area 16 determines the relative location between the upper member 11 and the lower member 12. The flat surface area 15 on the ball and socket correspond to set the axial location between the upper member 11 and the lower member. This area is what is under stress during the pivoted state of the golf tee 10. The retaining area 17 provides the surface that holds the upper member 11 to the lower member 12. A reduced area 18 allows the upper member 11 to rotate around the lower member 12.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a front view of the upper member. In this view illustrated is a slot 19, which allows the socket of the upper member 11 to open as the lower member is installed. The slot 19 also allows the upper member to pivot against the flat area 15 shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, there is shown a cross sectional view of the upper member 11 and a side view of the lower member 12 respectively. The upper surface 23 of the upper member 11 is radius in shape to correspond to the radius 21 on the lower member 12. The side flat surface 26 of the upper member 11 corresponds to the flat surface 20 on the lower member. Without the flat the upper member 11 would rotate freely around the lower member 12. Surface 24 on the upper member 11 corresponds to surface 22 on the lower member 12 to retain the upper member 11 to the lower member 12. Surface 25 on the upper member 11 is a lead in chamfer for installation of the lower member 12 into the upper member 11.

A method of manufacturing the golf tee 10 will now be described. The golf tee 10 is comprised of an upper member 11 and a lower member 12. The upper member 11 is an injection-molded plastic part. The lower member 12 is also an injection-molded part. Those skilled in the art of molding understand the method of molding and it is not described herein. Also those skilled in the art will recognize the type of material used to construct the upper member 11 and the lower member 12 could include plastic, rubber, aluminum, or any other flexible, light weight, strong, durable material.

The method of manufacturing the golf tee 10 further includes pressing the upper member 11 onto the lower member 12. Those skilled in the art also understand the methods of making such a press.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiment described without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A two piece pivoting golf tee comprising: an upper member with a socket end an lower member with a ball end
 2. A golf tee of claim 1 further comprising of an upper surface of the upper member that is radius in shape to correspond to the radius on the lower member. The side flat surface of the upper member corresponds to the flat surface on the lower member. A retaining surface on the upper member corresponds to radius surface on the lower member. A lead in chamfer on the upper member for installation of the lower member
 12. 3. A golf tee of claim 2 further comprising side flat surface of the upper member corresponds to the flat surface on the lower member for axially aligning the upper and lower members.
 4. A golf tee of claim 3 further comprising a slot in the upper member which allows the upper member to open as the lower member is installed. The slot also allows the upper member to pivot against the flat area. 